Wolf Pack football, 3 keys: Air Force is reeling, but it's still the academy

At least three of the top four quarterbacks on the rosters of Air Force and Nevada won’t play today, and the fourth, Wolf Pack starter Cody Fajardo, is probable at best.

Air Force is without starter Kale Pearson (knee) and back-up Jaleel Awini (suspension). Nevada is missing back-up Devin Combs (knee). Fajardo has missed the last 2 1/2 games with a sprained right knee but looked pretty mobile at practice this week. Polian was hopeful the medical staff would clear him in time for today’s game at Mackay Stadium.

Air Force running back Jon Lee (with ball) is sent airborne during a game against Wyoming at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday. Lee leads the Falcons in rushing with 244 yards and 8.4 yards per carry. (Michael Ciaglo/AP)

The Falcons are reeling. Not only are they down to third-string QB Karson Roberts, they’re also missing one of their top weapons in receiver Ty MacArthur, who often has more carries than catches in the Falcons’ sweep and option plays. And fullback Broam Hart is battling a concussion. He only recently was cleared to play.

Add to that an 0-3 Mountain West Conference record and no hope for a MWC Mountain Division title and you would expect to see a team with its collective tail dragging.

But this is the Air Force Academy. Toughness, both mental and physical, is their middle name.

Here, then, are three keys for the Wolf Pack to come away victorious:

Strong memory

The same four players on the defensive front who got manhandled in Colorado Springs, Colo., last season (a 48-31 AFA win in which the Falcons rushed for 461 yards) are back for the Pack this season. How much did they learn both that night and from film study this week?

Quick start

The Wolf Pack would help itself a lot by getting a two-touchdown or more lead early. Air Force is not comfortable coming from behind. If the Falcons get to a point where they have to throw it a lot, that’s a good thing for Nevada.

Early-down defense

The best thing you can do to slow down the Falcons’ option offense is to make the team face a lot of second-and-9s and third-and-7s. If the Wolf Pack ends up having a number right around 1.5-2.5 yards allowed on first down, it should be in pretty good shape.

WOLF PACK FOOTBALL

WHO: Air Force (1-3, 0-3) vs. Nevada (2-2, 1-0)

WHERE: Mackay Stadium (capacity, 30,000)

WHEN: Today, 5:05 p.m.

TV/RADIO: CBS Sports Network/94.5 FM (3:35 p.m. pregame)

BETTING LINE: Nevada is favored by 10<AF>1/2<XA>; total is 59<AF>1/2<XA>.

About this blog

Longtime RGJ Media reporter Dan Hinxman is the authority on Wolf Pack athletics, bringing you the day-to-day coverage of Nevada’s sports teams. Dan has covered almost everything the Northern Nevada sports scene has to offer and will use his knowledge to bring you authoritative and engaging Wolf Pack content. Follow him on Twitter at @DanHinxmanRGJ.